Cane Toad Can Still Be Stopped: Greens

9th March 2010 - The Greens today expressed dismay at reports of Cane Toads being found on the outskirts of Kununurra, and frustration over the State and federal governments’ limited action on the problem.

Greens MLC Robin Chapple said that he was extremely concerned for the future of the Kimberley given the toads’ devastating impact on biodiversity further east. He said the Greens would be demanding action to prevent the same occurring in Western Australia.

“If the toad is allowed to spread further west, the Kimberley as we know it is doomed. I am not exaggerating. The cane toad is a proven destroyer of pristine habitats because it is poisonous to native predators.” Mr Chapple said.

“If the top predators – snakes and lizards, even crocodiles – are killed off the entire system breaks down. The toad is also a killer of marsupials such as the quoll. This is what the Kimberley facing unless rapid and comprehensive action is taken.”

Mr Chapple said that State and Federal governments had failed the people and ecosystems of the Kimberley because they had not adequately funded organisations trying to halt the spread of the toad.

“We have fantastic organisations such as Stop the Toad and Toadbusters struggling to contain the spread and not getting nearly enough support from the Rudd or Barnett Governments”, Mr. Chapple said.

“They never took heed of community warnings and expert warnings and now we have cane toads on the threshold of the last truly pristine place in Australia.”

“This is the reality now. From here on in the task of stopping the toads will get more difficult as the country gets wilder, wetter and less accessible.”

“The Greens will be demanding support at all levels of government for a ‘boots on the ground’ policy towards stopping the toads. I will be writing to Ministers Faragher and Garrett on this matter”

Mr Chapple said that this would include demanding funding for full-time community or public sector officers in the affected region, and a relocation program for affected species.

“The State and federal environment ministries had better get their act together this time, or we face a catastrophic loss of biodiversity in the Kimberley.”